Michael Carrick future: Man Utd weigh sacking as Pochettino open to talks
Man United are in the relegation zone and Mauricio Pochettino is the name in the frame. What ESPN and Sky Sports report, and what decides Carrick's fate.
Michael Carrick’s job as Manchester United head coach is hanging by a thread. ESPN reported on Tuesday, 10 November, that the club’s hierarchy is preparing to dismiss him, with Mauricio Pochettino, now coach of the US national team, their favoured replacement. Sky Sports said no final decision had been taken, but that Pochettino is open to talks.
How bad is it?
United are in the Premier League relegation zone, with one win in their last 10 games, reports said, the club’s worst start to a Premier League season. Carrick was still taking training this week, ESPN said, but the mood at Old Trafford has turned. Goal.com reported the board wants a decision before the trip to Liverpool on 22 November.
Not everyone blames the coach. Former Arsenal player Paul Merson told Sky Sports that United’s transfer policy, not Carrick, is the real problem.
Why Pochettino?
Pochettino has history with United: ESPN says he has interviewed for the job three times before. He coached Tottenham to a Champions League final, and also led Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Taking him from the USMNT would not be cheap. Sky Sports put the buyout at around £7 million, while Yahoo Sports reported more than $10 million plus payments for his staff. If United move, Sky says they want to avoid an interim coach and go straight to a permanent appointment.
That creates a second story: the US has a home World Cup legacy to build after 2026, and losing its coach mid-cycle would be a blow for US Soccer.
Why Pakistan is searching
United are one of the most followed clubs in Pakistan, and “michael carrick” was among the top Google searches in the country on Tuesday. Many fans remember Carrick as the calm midfielder of United’s last title-winning era, which makes this harder to watch.
What to watch
The international break gives the club a window to act without missing a match. If Carrick is still in charge when United travel to Anfield on 22 November, he will have survived, for now. Until the club speaks, everything above is reporting from Sky Sports, ESPN and others, not an official announcement.
